NATO-defence-diplomacy-EU-US

NATO-defence-diplomacy-EU-US
NATO chief warns EU over defence pact
Brussels, Feb 13, 2018 (AFP) - NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg on Tuesday
warned the EU its new defence cooperation pact must not undermine the
alliance, as US officials voiced fresh concerns about the flagship initiative.
The European Union launched the scheme with great fanfare in December,
touting it as a way to get member states to work more closely post-Brexit and
spend more effectively on defence projects.
But the plan has come under fire in recent days from US officials who fear
it could draw resources away from NATO and even become a "protectionist"
umbrella for European defence manufacturers.
Stoltenberg, speaking on the eve of a meeting of NATO defence ministers in
Brussels, said there was "no way" the EU could replace the transatlantic
alliance in guaranteeing European security.
Efforts to boost European defence spending were welcome, he said, but only
if they were coordinated with NATO plans.
"It will be absolutely without any meaning if NATO and the EU start to
compete," the former Norwegian premier told reporters.
"European allies are absolutely aware that the defence, the protection of
Europe is dependent on NATO."
The EU's so-called permanent structured cooperation on defence agreement,
known as PESCO, has projects in view already to develop new military equipment
and improve cooperation and decision-making.
But on Sunday Katie Wheelbarger, a senior official at the US Department of
Defense, said Washington regarded some of the proposed initiatives as "pulling
resources or capabilities away from NATO".
And the US stepped up its criticism on Monday, with Ambassador to NATO Kay
Baliey Hutchison warning the EU there could be serious consequences if it shut
US defence companies out of cooperation projects.
"Certainly we do not want this to be a protectionist vehicle for the EU and
we're going to watch carefully because if that becomes the case then it could
splinter the strong security alliance that we have," she told reporters.
"We want the Europeans to have capabilities and strength but not to fence
off American products or Norwegian products or potentially UK products."
Britain, which is leaving the EU, is one of only three member states along
with Denmark and Malta not to sign up to the pact.
Under the rules of the cooperation agreement, as a non-EU state Britain
will be able to take part in specific missions but will have no
decision-making role.
pdw/dk/ecl